Marine Farming Association

14/04/2026

This weekend!! The Pool Sharks are a talented group of kids from Bohally Intermediate School in Blenheim who are prepping for an amazing opportunity to show off their skills in the United States of America. In 2025 they competed in the NZ Aquabot competition and were proud winners of their class and have now been invited to represent Aotearoa New Zealand at the International SeaPerch Challenge in May.

SeaPerch is an underwater robotics competition where students design and build a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and complete engineering challenges such as inspecting underwater structures, removing debris after storms, relocating wildlife and testing water quality. The programme helps young people learn practical engineering skills including design, buoyancy, electrical systems and teamwork and they are busy fundraising to get to the USA.

If your organization can help support the team, please get in touch with us at MFA, or with Bohally Intermediate School and we'll connect you with their team rep.

Get a team together for a fantastic cause! Let's help the Pool Shark Aquabots get to the USA 🤗

02/03/2026

We can't wait to see you there!!

15/02/2026

Don't forget Climate Action Week is on from 23-27 February.
Head along to learn and share your ideas - tickets can be purchased here: https://events.humanitix.com/climate-action-week-marlborough-2026

Climate Action Marlborough

10/02/2026

Heading out for a fish or a day’s boating?
Here’s what you need to know to safely enjoy your time around marine farms.

Mussel farms in particular can be great places to fish, but there are a few key things to remember:
⚓ Don’t anchor within or near farm boundaries
🐢 Slow down and keep a good lookout at all times
🧭 Know your location and be aware of farm boundaries
👷‍♂️ Respect working boats and farming crews
👀 Don’t assume a farm is inactive just because you can’t see lines on the surface

www.marinefarming.co.nz

MFA would like to thank to the following for their help with this video series:
Josh Robertson
Talley's
MacLab (NZ)
Platinum Auto Electric/Marine
Clearwater Mussels
Peter Renshaw & Tasman District Council
Tim Cuff
University of Auckland

Marine farms are a common feature along our coastline, and there are some important things to remember when boating in these shared waters.Some farm types ar...

27/01/2026

Marine farms are an excellent place to fish but it's important you remember they are working sites. There may be infrastructure below the surface that you can't see.

Know your boundary markers, and your location in relation to any farming sites. Don't cut through, even if it looks like the farm is empty.

Active farms make the best fishing sites, just remember - no anchoring within the farm boundary.

https://youtube.com/shorts/kQ7Fjkrup4g

This video was produced by the Marine Farming Association Inc. A member organisation representing the interests of marine farmers in Te Tau Ihu (top of the South Island) in New Zealand. The purpose of this series of videos is to educate fishers and boaties on how to enjoy our shared waters safely. Mussel farms in particular are fantastic places to fish and we encourage kiwis to get out there and catch some snapper!

www.marinefarming.co.nz

MFA would like to thank to the following for their help with this video series:
Josh Robertson
Talley's
MacLab (NZ)
Platinum Auto Electric/Marine
Clearwater Mussels
Josh Robertson
Talley's
MacLab (NZ)
Platinum Auto Electric/Marine
Clearwater Mussels
Peter Renshaw & Tasman District Council
Tim Cuff
University of Auckland
Tim Cuff
University of Auckland

Marine farms are an excellent place to fish but it's important you remember they are working sites. There may be infrastructure below the surface that you ca...

26/01/2026

Save the Date! Blessing of the Fleet Nelson 2026

Join us as we honour our sea-going whānau, past and
present, with a weekend of unforgettable celebrations!

Help us kick off the weekend with a spectacular Fireworks Display!
📍 Tahunanui Beach
🕓 5.30PM
📅 Friday 8th May

Then come on down on Saturday, 9th May, to
Seafarers Memorial Pier for the Blessing of the Fleet, featuring:

🚤 Vessel Parades & Port Nelson Tugs display
🎣 Fish filleting and demonstrations by Talleys
🍤 Delicious seafood and fish n' chips

You won't want to miss out!

Mark your calendars now and stay tuned for more details. See you there!

Event Details >> https://www.facebook.com/share/17k76zRnik/

21/01/2026

Marine farms are an excellent place to fish but it's important you don't anchor within the farm boundary.
There may be infrastructure below the surface that you can't see - leading to snagged and lost anchors, as well as damage to the farmers' gear.
You can tie off to a float handle using a loose knot, just avoid using sunken floats or tying to the backbone.

Marine farms are an excellent place to fish but it's important you don't anchor within the farm boundaries. There may be infrastructure below the surface tha...

21/11/2025

The 2026 festival is proving popular already with the first release of VIP tickets sold out! Remember, the earlybird GA tickets are limited - get yours asap to avoid disappointment.

03/11/2025

Havelock Mussel and Seafood Festival tickets are now live!!
Shapeshifter are headlining and we expect tickets to sell out - don't wait for gate sales this year. There's plenty for families as well and we're particularly excited about the Wellington Sea Shanty Society!

19/10/2025

MDC are hosting a talk by Professor Rochelle Constantine from the University of Auckland, "The Whales and Dolphins in your Big Blue Backyard".

Held on 5 November (6:30pm) at the Lansdowne Hub, the talk is free to attend.
Space is limited so they recommend registering online below.

The top of Te Waipounamu South Island is critical habitat for many species of whale and dolphins - from the largest blue whales to the smallest Hector's dolphins.

01/10/2025

Funded by the Marine Farming Association, New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science Limited worked with Extrutec Ltd, the University of Auckland and Waimana Marine to trial 𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 as a more sustainable alternative to other types of lashing.

Over 700 biodegradable rope ties were deployed on mussel farms in the Marlborough region, with researchers carefully monitoring performance and decomposition. The results? 💡 None of the ties failed during normal farming — showing in some circumstances we can cut down on other lashing types without compromising farm productivity.

This research offers mussel farmers a practical way to reduce their environmental footprint while continuing to deliver one of Aotearoa’s most iconic seafoods.

🎥 Watch the video to see how biodegradable rope ties are helping shape a more sustainable future for aquaculture.

Mussel farming in Aotearoa has long relied on plastic rope ties to secure the crop lines to surface ropes. But these ties are single-use, non-recyclable, and...